“Unacceptable and misogynistic behaviour”: Female barrister hits out at sexist comment about her LinkedIn picture

An award-winning female barrister has taken to Twitter in protest, after her LinkedIn picture became the subject of sexist comments from a male lawyer.

Charlotte Proudman, an award-winning barrister at Chambers of Michael Mansfield Q.C., was shocked by a message she received after connecting with Alexander Carter-Silk, a respected Commercial Solicitor and senior partner Brown Rudnick LLP, on professional networking site LinkedIn.

Carter-Silk, who has been practising law for over 25 years, sent Proudman, an inbox message titled ‘RE: PICTURE’.

The message read: “Charlotte, delighted to connect, I appreciate that this is probably horrendously politically incorrect but that is a stunning picture !!!”

“You definitely win the prize for the best LinkedIn picture I have ever seen.”

“Always interest to understant (sic) people’s skills and how we might work together.”

Proudman, who is currently working towards a doctorate in Law and Sociology at Cambridge University, researching legal policy to combat female genital mutilation (FGM), replied several hours later informing Carter-Silk that she was offended by his message.

“Alex, I find your message offensive. I am on Linked-in for business purposes, not to be approached about my physical appearance or to be objectified by sexist men.”

“The eroticisation of women’s physical appearance is a way of exercising power over women. It silences women’s professional attributes as their physical appearance becomes the subject.”

Proudman then an shared image of both messages on her Twitter account, publicly calling out Carter-Silk’s behaviour in a tweet that read: “How many women @LinkedIn are contacted re physical appearance rather than prof skills?”

In an interview with the Evening Standard, Proudman says that she has no regrets about taking a stand, even it does have negative consequences on her legal career. She describes Carter-Silk's behaviour as 'disappointing'.

“It's very disappointing, there are serious professional misconduct issues, as a legal professional he is required to uphold the law, and that includes the Sex Discrimination Act and the Equality Act.”

“I'm on there for business purposes and I thought he may be interested in my skills and experience as opposed to my body. People are treating LinkedIn like Tinder, I've received many messages based on my physical appearance, but this one was from a senior partner.”

“The only way we're going to end sexism within our generation is if we name them publicly, if we call out sexism, and if there are consequences, so be it.